Crawl control discussion

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Just like calling a 4wd system Awd
Your vehicle nominally operates in AWD (with a torque sensing center diff which is a really cool component, google it). When you enable the center diff lock, it operates in 4WD. Understanding the differences between the function of the two very different modes, and when to use them, is key to being able to competently operate the vehicle you spent $90k on. Factual information is empowering.
 
Your vehicle nominally operates in AWD (with a torque sensing center diff which is a really cool component, google it). When you enable the center diff lock, it operates in 4WD. Understanding the differences between the function of the two very different modes, and when to use them, is key to being able to competently operate the vehicle you spent $90k on. Factual information is empowering.
Since my vehicle isn't Awd, my vehicle normally operates in full time 4wd. Thank you for speculating how much I spend in my vehicle 😆.
 
Asinine auto industry terminology and acronyms aside, a full-time 4WD vehicle is one that nominally operates in AWD, but which has the ability to lock its center diff, and enter 4WD.

AWD nominally sends all power to the wheel with the least traction.

4WD matches the speeds of the front and rear axles.

AWD doesn't sound terribly helpful, does it? It's not, which is why we get a torque sensing center diff that features some ability to apportion torque.

Like on-road stability and traction control systems, AWD is mostly a safety aid. Without fancy center diffs, it can't help your vehicle find traction. Even with fancy center diffs like ours, its ability to foster forward progress is limited. In contrast, with 4WD (before we get to diff locks and fancy electronic traction aids) the wheel with the least traction can only spin as fast as whichever wheel on on the opposite axle has the least traction. This adds capability, not safety.
If matching front and rear driveshafts makes a 4wd, why aren’t audis considered 4wd? They have torsen differentials just like we do in our land cruisers. And they automatically lock up as needed. Thus they have the ability to lock their front and rear drive shafts (as much as torsens allow for this). This Quattro system is considered awd.

In case your response is that the Audi torsen center diff doesn’t have a manual locking feature and thus is considered awd for that reason: bear in mind the Range Rover classic didn’t have a manually locking center differential though it did have low range. It had a viscous coupling that automatically engaged it’s locking feature. It was not selectable. This was considered full time 4wd.

similarly, there were later disco 2’s that had low range, but no physical ability to manually lock their transfer cases (the transfer case technically could be locked if you bought some parts and modified it, but that’s not how it came from the factory). This was considered full time 4wd too, even though it didn’t have the ability to, manually or automatically, lock the front and rear driveshafts.

and I’ll repeat: the Mercedes ml series had a low range but no ability to manually lock its center differential. It too was considered permanent 4wd.

4wd has a low range. Awd does not. The ability for the vehicle to lock its driveshafts has nothing to do with the definitions.

I only know this stuff because I used to be into/have land rovers, audis, and an ml.

9D960ECF-8746-4036-AA52-FCB168ED8EC3.webp
 
If matching front and rear driveshafts makes a 4wd, why aren’t audis considered 4wd? They have torsen differentials just like we do in our land cruisers. And they automatically lock up as needed. Thus they have the ability to lock their front and rear drive shafts (as much as torsens allow for this). This Quattro system is considered awd.

In case your response is that the Audi torsen center diff doesn’t have a manual locking feature and thus is considered awd for that reason: bear in mind the Range Rover classic didn’t have a manually locking center differential though it did have low range. It had a viscous coupling that automatically engaged it’s locking feature. It was not selectable. This was considered full time 4wd.

similarly, there were later disco 2’s that had low range, but no physical ability to manually lock their transfer cases (the transfer case technically could be locked if you bought some parts and modified it, but that’s not how it came from the factory). This was considered full time 4wd too, even though it didn’t have the ability to, manually or automatically, lock the front and rear driveshafts.

and I’ll repeat: the Mercedes ml series had a low range but no ability to manually lock its center differential. It too was considered permanent 4wd.

4wd has a low range. Awd does not. The ability for the vehicle to lock its driveshafts has nothing to do with the definitions.

I only know this stuff because I used to be into/have land rovers, audis, and an ml.

As I said, trying to definitize semantics here is futile as the industry doesn't use standard terminology. Oftentimes, it's not even mechanical differentiation so much as it is application intent. Or worse, marketing. While I understand what you're saying in regards to low range - that isn't necessarily even the discriminator as lots of 4WD trucks don't even have low range anymore. Then throw in crap labels such as Auto 4WD, and does that a manly pickup have lame AWD?
 
If matching front and rear driveshafts makes a 4wd, why aren’t audis considered 4wd? They have torsen differentials just like we do in our land cruisers. And they automatically lock up as needed. Thus they have the ability to lock their front and rear drive shafts (as much as torsens allow for this). This Quattro system is considered awd.

In case your response is that the Audi torsen center diff doesn’t have a manual locking feature and thus is considered awd for that reason: bear in mind the Range Rover classic didn’t have a manually locking center differential though it did have low range. It had a viscous coupling that automatically engaged it’s locking feature. It was not selectable. This was considered full time 4wd.

similarly, there were later disco 2’s that had low range, but no physical ability to manually lock their transfer cases (the transfer case technically could be locked if you bought some parts and modified it, but that’s not how it came from the factory). This was considered full time 4wd too, even though it didn’t have the ability to, manually or automatically, lock the front and rear driveshafts.

and I’ll repeat: the Mercedes ml series had a low range but no ability to manually lock its center differential. It too was considered permanent 4wd.

4wd has a low range. Awd does not. The ability for the vehicle to lock its driveshafts has nothing to do with the definitions.

I only know this stuff because I used to be into/have land rovers, audis, and an ml.

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The s***tyness of Disco IIs isn't relevant to this discussion.

Automakers are free to put whatever badges they want on cars. I could slap v8, 4wd, and turbo badges on a Prius, but it wouldn't change what's under that vehicles hood.

The accepted technical definitions of 4wd, awd, full time, etc, are as teckiss and I have explained them here.

I'd encourage you to find better sources of information than random google results in the future.

For everyone insisting their 200 series operates nominally in 4wd: you couldn't safely drive it on pavement if it was.
 
As I said, trying to definitize semantics here is futile as the industry doesn't use standard terminology. Oftentimes, it's not even mechanical differentiation so much as it is application intent. Or worse, marketing. While I understand what you're saying in regards to low range - that isn't necessarily even the discriminator as lots of 4WD trucks don't even have low range anymore. Then throw in crap labels such as Auto 4WD, and does that a manly pickup have lame AWD?
Yes. A good example of this is the Cadillac Escalade. Even though, bodily, it’s comparable to a Tahoe, because they got rid of the low range on the Escalade, it is now marketed as awd...while the Tahoe, with its low range, is marketed as 4wd.
 
The s***tyness of Disco IIs isn't relevant to this discussion.

Automakers are free to put whatever badges they want on cars. I could slap v8, 4wd, and turbo badges on a Prius, but it wouldn't change what's under that vehicles hood.

The accepted technical definitions of 4wd, awd, full time, etc, are as teckiss and I have explained them here.

I'd encourage you to find better sources of information than random google results in the future.

For everyone insisting their 200 series operates nominally in 4wd: you couldn't safely drive it on pavement if it was.
The land cruiser is a full time 4wd vehicle. it is always in 4wd.
Sometimes it’s even in low range...which is safe on the street, technically, because, unlike a part time 4wd, engaging the low range setting doesn’t also lock the front and rear driveshafts on most vehicles.
the ml320 had a similar system. though it didn’t have the capacity to lock the center diff, it did have the ability to operate in 4 low on pavement without risk to the drivetrain components. This is why it was considered a full time 4wd vehicle...like most land rovers and land cruisers.

A part time 4wd should not be driven on the pavement in 4wd, generally speaking...for the same reason you wouldn’t want to drive on pavement with the locking feature on your land cruiser engaged. However, there are some part time 4wd systems that allow you to drive in 4 hi on the street without risk. It’s not the norm though.

and teckis is right, there may be no officially recognized nomenclature on this subject...

however, having researched a bunch of SUV’s before I arrived on the land cruiser (and owning a Land Rover and ml), I never came across a truck with low range that wasn’t marketed as 4wd. And I came across multiple that had low range and no locking driveshafts...none of those were marketed as anything but “permanent/full time 4wd.” Plus if you google awd vs full time 4wd, you get an article describing precisely what I found.

I would be curious if you were able to find a vehicle without a low range that the manufacturer marketed as 4wd though.

because I can provide many vehicles marketed as 4wd that do not lock their driveshafts.
 
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The land cruiser is a full time 4wd vehicle. it is always in 4wd.
Sometimes it’s even in low range...which is safe on the street, technically, because, unlike a part time 4wd, engaging the low range setting doesn’t also lock the front and rear driveshafts on most vehicles.
the ml320 had a similar system. though it didn’t have the capacity to lock the center diff, it did have the ability to operate in 4 low on pavement without risk to the drivetrain components. This is why it was considered a full time 4wd vehicle...like most land rovers and land cruisers.

A part time 4wd should not be driven on the pavement in 4wd, generally speaking...for the same reason you wouldn’t want to drive on pavement with the locking feature on your land cruiser engaged. However, there are some part time 4wd systems that allow you to drive in 4 hi on the street without risk. It’s not the norm though.

and teckis is right, there may be no officially recognized nomenclature on this subject...

however, having researched a bunch of SUV’s before I arrived on the land cruiser (and owning a Land Rover and ml), I never came across a truck with low range that wasn’t marketed as 4wd. And I came across multiple that had low range and no locking driveshafts...none of those were marketed as anything but “permanent/full time 4wd.” Plus if you google awd vs full time 4wd, you get an article describing precisely what I found.

I would be curious if you were able to find a vehicle without a low range that the manufacturer marketed as 4wd though.

because I can provide many vehicles marketed as 4wd that do not lock their driveshafts.

facepalm-head.webp
 
Actually really easy to retrofit a 2010-2019 GX 460 with CC and MTS. I added both to my 2012 three years ago.

"Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) retrofit on '10-'19 GX 460 / all trims"


I am not a hard core off roader but I am a fan of CC. I have used several times in my LX and had it in my 5th Gen 4Runner. One of the reasons I skipped over the GX was because finding one with CC is like finding a Unicorn.
 
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Actually really easy to retrofit a 2010-2019 GX 460 with CC and MTS. I added both to my 2012 three years ago.

"Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) retrofit on '10-'19 GX 460 / all trims"
This is good to know. My wife is interested in a gx...it’s nice to know I can retrofit whichever she buys with crawl control.

In a similar vein, anyone know if the ability to add “multi terrain select” to a 200 without the feature is possible?
 
This may be a thread to follow... a retrofit attempt on '10 LX

 
This is good to know. My wife is interested in a gx...it’s nice to know I can retrofit whichever she buys with crawl control.

In a similar vein, anyone know if the ability to add “multi terrain select” to a 200 without the feature is possible?

If one is ok with a less than OEM appearance you can even add crawl for less than $20 to a 10-19 460 with just some wire, buttons and a ZPC.


1.webp
 
Maybe a dumb question, but what is the best procedure to get out of crawl control? My first reaction is to apply the brake, but CC doesn't disengage but fights to keep going and it's quite a commotion. I then disable with the button but that seems less than ideal. How do you all disable CC after use? Sorry if I missed it and this was already covered here.
 
Maybe a dumb question, but what is the best procedure to get out of crawl control? My first reaction is to apply the brake, but CC doesn't disengage but fights to keep going and it's quite a commotion. I then disable with the button but that seems less than ideal. How do you all disable CC after use? Sorry if I missed it and this was already covered here.
I've done it the same way you do. But when I get on the brakes CC stops and I get a little message in that center display. Then hit the on/off button
 
I've done it the same way you do. But when I get on the brakes CC stops and I get a little message in that center display. Then hit the on/off button
I've never tried to stand on the brakes. I press the pedal and it fights back so I let off. I'll have to try that. I'll check the manual as well
 
OK, so despite all of the "theoretical" discussion here I think it might be the best thread to ask this question. I've picked up bits from this thread, owner's manual, other threads but still am not clear on a few things. Remember, coming from FJ-62 world with simple 4WD and lockers :) So...

What is the difference between Crawl Control and MTS and how is MTS engaged?

CC - you hit the button and dial in the speed. You steer. It controls throttle. Does it also control brake?

MTS - when the heck does MTS come into play and how is it different from CC?

I tried playing with these in the snow yesterday and came away even more confused.

If there is a good explanation lurking around on this that I haven't found please point me to it. And no, not the owner's manual. I've spent a ridiculous amount of time with that and the only thing that I learned is another way to get a headache.
 

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